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HomeLifestyleEvents and ExhibitionsEnvironmental Art and Design talent on display across three venues

Environmental Art and Design talent on display across three venues

An exhibition showcasing finalists in the national 2023 Environmental Art and Design Competition is currently on display until 27 August across three venues on the Northern Beaches: Manly Art Gallery & Museum, Curl Curl Creative Space and Mona Vale Creative Space Gallery.

The exhibition, which is free, is open Tuesday to Sundays, 10am – 5pm across the three galleries.

A People’s Choice Award will be announced on Friday 25 August at 7pm at Manly Art Gallery.

This is the third year of the competition, which features nine categories ranging from sculpture to wearable designs to painting and photography.

The exhibition celebrates outstanding talent from 10 winning individuals and a school, chosen from 600 entries, who share a prize pool of $42,000.

Northern Beaches Council, which created the national competition, hosted the awards ceremony at Manly Art Gallery on 3 August.

The annual competition addresses themes of environmental awareness and responses to crises.

Laura Fisher of Kandos School of Cultural Adaptation, winners of the 2023 Environmental Art and Design Prize (Interdisciplinary Collaboration Category), with “Land Studio”. Photo: Karen Watson

According to a Council spokesperson, “the non-acquisitive prize saw artist and designers be a part of conversation around the world’s most pivotal topics – the complexities of environmental challenges in the 21st century and innovative ideas for the future around the natural world, environmental regeneration and the circular economy in their works.”

Northern Beaches Mayor Sue Heins said, “The exhibition presents responses from artists and designers which reflect on our environment and the crucial issues facing us and our climate…

“These thought-provoking works, covering a breadth of issues, make an important contribution to the national conversation about how we can work collectively towards a better future for ourselves and our children.”

She added, “Artists and designers are agents of change; often taking the lead in responding to environmental or societal challenges.

“The Environmental Art & Design Prize has brought together a dynamic community of artists, designers and audiences who care deeply about our future. Their works speak volumes about not only about their creativity but the underlying reasons we created this national prize.”

“Plastic or Prey” by Jasper Hartmann, winner of the 2023 Environmental Art and Design Prize (Young 13-18 Category). Photo: Karen Watson

This year’s prize winners are:

Ceramics and Small Sculpture: Shani Nottingham, Cowra, NSW

Film: Perdita Phillips, Fremantle, WA

Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Kandos School of Cultural Adaptation, Bulli, NSW

Painting and Mixed Media: Grace Kemarre Robinya, Alice Springs, NT

Works on Paper and Photography: Belinda Yee, Balmain

Wearable Design: Adelash Parsons, Surry Hills

Functional Design: Jack Stannard, Balgowlah

Young Artists and Designers (7-12 years): Joint Winners:

Charles Whitehead, North Curl Curl; Isabella Niu, Roseville; Imogen Maddison, Chatswood; Rafferty Stanley, Fairlight

Young Artists and Designers (13-18 years): Joint Winners:

Charlotte Yan, Northern Narrabeen; Jasper Hartman, Coogee

View the winners’ works and learn more about the competition on Council’s website.

Belinda Yee, winner of the 2023 Environmental Art and Design Prize (Works on Paper and Photography Category) with her winning submission “Interference Pattern”. Photo: Karen Watson

Environmental Art and Design competition exhibition

When: 4 – 27 August; Tuesday – Sunday, 10am – 5pm

WhereManly Art Gallery and Museum (West Esplanade Reserve, Manly); Curl Curl Creative Space (105 Abbott Road, North Curl Curl); Mona Vale Creative Space Gallery (Village Park, 1 Park Street, Mona Vale)

Admission: Free

An opportunity to meet the artists and designers takes place at Mona Vale Creative Space on 19 August between 2 – 3pm.

Jack Stannard, winner of the 2023 Environmental Art and Design Prize (Functional Design Category), with his winning submission “Spindle Stool”. Photo: Karen Watson

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